One of the main holidays of Christians is the Nativity of Christ. Orthodox Christians celebrate it on January 7, and Catholics on December 25. A big, bright holiday. But the most mysterious is Christmas Eve, which is celebrated the day before: January 6 according to the Orthodox calendar or December 24 according to the Catholic calendar. This day is full of mysteries and secrets. Many signs, fortune-telling and beliefs are associated with it. Signs on this day are considered very important, correct, and not paying attention to them is considered unacceptable.
The Mystery of Christmas Eve
Christmas Eve is a special day. It marks the end of the Christmas fast. Any fasting is a restriction both in food and in the whole life in general. The Nativity Fast is very important: it gives people the opportunity to purify their souls and bodies with the help of prayers in order to meet this great holiday with dignity, pure and renewed spiritually and physically.
It is believed that the word "Christmas Eve" comes from the name of a sweet dish made from wheat "sochivo", which was cooked with honey. Like any dish associated with religion, it was of great importance: cereals symbolized new life, and honey - the sweetness of the future. Instead of sochivu, they cooked kutya: rice with raisins.
Pancakes and honey were sure to be present on the table. Pancakes symbolized eternity, sun, and honey, sweet and rich life. Also, an uzvar from the fruits of fruit and berry trees was served on the table: pear, apple, cherry, plum, grapes. The table was laid in a special way: it was covered with hay or straw to make it look like the manger in which the baby Jesus was found.
The story of the newborn Christ is tightly woven into the tradition of the holiday. Believers try to reproduce as much as possible the scene with the Magi who found the baby and brought him many gif.webpts. That is why Christians decorate their home and the area around them with the attributes of this event, trying to recreate the event to the smallest detail.
What can and cannot be done on Christmas Eve?
This great holiday has rules that can be called omens. On Christmas Eve, it was forbidden to use piercing and cutting household items. This was expressed in the fact that many household chores were postponed:
- Knitting and sewing;
- Slaughter of livestock;
- Hunting up to Epiphany;
- Chatting while baking bread.
- While kneading the dough, a woman should go out into the yard and touch all the trees and shrubs for a rich harvest.
- You can not quarrel and swear, use swear words.
- It is imperative to make peace with those with whom you had a bad relationship.
Non-holiday homework could be troublesome. Therefore, the believers were so anxious about the holiday. All they did was prepare holiday dishes, decorate the house, and visit the temple.
General signs on Christmas Eve
People have always been attentive to changes around them. Hence, such a large number of signs and beliefs that are associated with certain dates and events. Christmas Eve was not spared either. Christmas Eve is full of all kinds of signs.
- On Christmas night, a window had to be opened for a miracle to burst into the house. This important task was entrusted to the man - the head of the family.
- The first thing they paid attention to were dreams. It is believed that dreams on the night of January 6-7 are prophetic. Believers tried to remember them to the smallest detail, because the future was hidden in them. Of course, you can't tell Christmas dreams. Here the holiday will pass, then it will be possible to share the secret. But many preferred to remain silent until the dream came true.
- On Christmas Eve, people kept their eyes on the sky. The shooting star promised the fulfillment of desires.I had to see her and have time to make a secret wish on Christmas.
- Christmas Eve is a bright, joyful holiday. He must be met in bright, smart clothes. If you meet Christmas Eve in an unsightly state, in old, dirty, dark clothes, then the year will pass in sorrow and sorrow, in illness.
- Holiday on Sunday. If it falls on a Sunday, then you could count on a high harvest.
- A large object or food that has fallen during the preparation of holiday dishes is a sign of good, good news and a good harvest.
- To stumble this day is to receive bad news.
- The old clock suddenly went - to the road and fun adventures.
- Happiness will be brought to the house by the man who first stepped on the threshold of the house with the arrival of the holiday.
- If a child is born on Christmas Eve, then he will bring happiness to the house.
- In order for happiness, prosperity and well-being to reign in the house, the hostess must prepare 12 lenten dishes, and in the morning put 12 fast dishes on the table.
Weather signs
- Early spring promised a blizzard and frost on Christmas night.
- Hoarfrost predicted rich wheat seedlings, which must be sown before Peter's day, that is, until June 12.
- If frost falls after Christmas, then you can sow wheat after Peter's day.
- The stars are apparently not visible - buckwheat and peas will fill the bins
- A warm day with a cheerful drop - spring will be cold, and vice versa, a frosty day - warm spring.
- If a sunny day falls on January 6, the year will be green, without drought.
- A lot of snow on the ground - a rich harvest.
- We noticed how many days before Christmas the frost would appear. This meant how many favorable days there would be for sowing before Midsummer, which is celebrated on May 21.
- Bright, large stars on Christmas night promised a rich forest harvest of mushrooms and berries. If there are few stars, then there will be nothing at all.
- The milky way is dim - to bad weather, bright - to sunny days.
- A large amount of snow - for an excellent grain harvest.
- The paths have turned black - there will be a lot of buckwheat.
Signs for marriage
On this day, the girls tried to closely follow the signs that told them the likelihood of marriage. Christmas Eve possessed magical powers. Therefore, the young girls watched so zealously what was happening that day.
- A missing hairbrush means a fast-paced relationship and a quick marriage.
- Time to put on an outfit before dusk. I didn't have time - I stayed in the girls. And the married woman risked losing her husband's interest.
- A rooster was brought into the house and released. He ran to the table - to get married, ran to the door - to walk "in brides" for another year.
- We looked at the road at dusk. If the first male passer-by came from the north - to be married this year, if from the south - there will be no wedding.
Signs for pregnant women
Conception of a child has always been a sacrament. On Christmas Eve, great importance was attached to this period of a woman's life.
- The child was asked from the Virgin Mary. They lit a candle all night and prayed. After the prayer, the dog was fed bread.
- They ate caviar or grains, which symbolized conception. They took as many of them as the woman was.
- It was obligatory to defend the entire church service in full.
- A pregnant woman washed herself with holy water and wiped her belly with it to protect the child from the evil eye and damage.
- You cannot knit - the baby will get tangled in the umbilical cord.
- You cannot cut your hair - the child will be born sick in the head.
- Stray animals were fed without fail. Whoever follows a woman needs to be sheltered, for this animal leads a baby with it.
Signs on health
An equally important part in Christmas was occupied by folk signs related to health.
- For the preparation of festive dishes and washing and bathing, only holy water was used.
- If the patient sneezed - to recovery.
- A round dance around the tree is the health of the whole family.
- A homeless animal that came to the doorstep was sure to be fed and welcomed - it carried health.
- On Christmas Eve, the first woman entered the house - to the illnesses of the hostess, the man - the health of the whole family.
- The child who went on this day will be strong and healthy.
- A seriously ill person will remember horses and pancakes - to death.
- Broken glass next to a sick or old man - to near death.
Signs for good luck
Everyone wants to catch the bluebird of happiness and good luck by the tail. If you follow all the rituals on Christmas Eve, then the chances of luck are very high. Well, signs will tell you how things are progressing.
- A bundle of straw was always brought into the house - it symbolized good luck and prosperity.
- The house was decorated with candles, bells, and a Christmas wreath was hung on the door. If a bell rang, it was believed that luck knocked on the house.
- Spilling a drink, tea or milk, to success in your endeavors.
- A meeting with a large dog or a horse is for luck and patrons.
- Ice crumbs in water from a well - to success and well-being.
- They hid a coin in pies and dumplings prepared on Christmas Eve. Whoever gets it will be happy and lucky all year long.
- If a man dreams on Christmas Eve, then this is to strong patrons and good luck in business.
Monetary signs
The financial well-being of the family has always been of great importance. They strove for it, took care of it and multiplied it. Attentive people noticed moments and situations that preceded either the accumulation or the loss of finances. This is how Christmas money signs appeared for money. If you treat them with due respect, you can secure your finances.
- A generous and rich treat on the festive table.
- Caroling should not be denied - the money will go out of the house. (You will find Christmas carols here).
- Make a gif.webpt to yourself.
- Step in feces - money.
- Feed pets abundantly on Christmas Eve.
- The cat brought prey to the house - to wealth.
- Seeing a live mouse means losing money.
- You can not borrow - to losses.
- You can not refuse to lend money - to financial losses.
- Finding a piece of jewelry means wealth.
- On Christmas Eve, you need to put on new, elegant things, otherwise poverty will come.
- A large amount of fire in the house will indicate the path to wealth.
- If it snows, there will be abundance.
Christmas is a bright, joyful holiday. Signs on Christmas Eve help to correctly prioritize, finish what was haunted, put your life in order and protect your home from trouble. Not a single sign appears just like that. This is the result of centuries of observation of coincidences. Therefore, you should not treat them with derision. Better to take on board and make your life a little better and happier.
